In one section, there may be many domiciles piled on top of each other, creating a buzz of activity as smaller demons move in and out. Whereas in others, there may be just one cavernous hangar in which a particularly large specimen makes their home. As we descend step by aching step, more and more of the residents take notice of us, looking up and pointing.
It’ll be interesting if we have to confront so many demons at once, but it’s looking as if that isn’t going to be the case. Around the base where the pillar meets the disk is a wall, there’s even guards standing at intervals around it. The pillar is guarded for some reason? Interesting…
Another ten minutes of climbing and I finally set claw on the disk itself, stretching my leg out to take my weight so I can once again become horizontal.
“AHHHHH! Feels so good to be flat again! My poor legs feel like they’re on fire! At least I managed to get a Level out of it.”
“In Grip?” Brilliant asks, shaking out her own legs. “Mine Levelled three times on that climb.”
“Keep raising that Skill,” I encourage her. “If you ever get to my size, you’re gonna need it at a high Level.”
Suddenly, I feel a bridge seek to attach to my mind, and I instinctively rebuff it, shoving the magic away and cutting it to ribbons with my Mind Constructs. I can’t see anyone around me, who the heck would be trying to speak with me?
[Keep an eye out, Invidia. Someone wants to chat.]
[They have already madessss an attempt.]
[You too?]
[Yessssss.]
[How’d that go?]
[I ripped their magic apartssss!]
[Nice work. Let’s take a defensive position here whilst we rest.]
Whilst I rest from the climb. Looking around, we appear to be in some form of disturbing garden, judging by the somewhat tasteless décor. Not that there’s a whole lot of plant life to be seen. Does someone actually live here? It isn’t long before we get our answer, as a grinning demon whose skin erupts in numerous wicked-looking blades approaches. Once again, I feel a Mind Bridge being extended, more respectfully this time, and I allow the contact.
[The lord wishes to speak with you,] the demon says.
No greeting? How rude. Still, it appears as if this city is managed by whoever lives here, might as well check it out.
111. Discussions with Royalty
I mean… he’s fat. Like. Really fat. I probably shouldn’t focus on that too much, considering this demon is almost certainly seventh tier, the first I’ve ever seen. But still, he’s like… a mega-chonker.
Atop that bulbous mass of flesh, split through the middle with a grotesque mouth that even now is stuffing itself full of Biomass from trays heaped with the stuff on either side of the figure of the city lord, a shockingly humanoid upper body looks down on us with thinly veiled contempt.
“Why have you entered my city, insect?” he demands.
Why is he singling me out? Is it my carapace? The precious diamond that I carry? You can’t have it! This carapace belongs to me, certainly, but also to the world! I am merely its caretaker, shepherding this glorious form through the Dungeon so that uncultured swine might gaze upon my magnificence and achieve enlightenment!
“This is one seriously pompous fatty,” I complain to Brilliant. “Not to mention rude. The least he could do is offer some of that Biomass to us.”
When I don’t scent a reply from the little ant, I focus a little more in her direction, and only then do I realise that the poor thing is frozen in place, totally overwhelmed by the dominant aura of malevolence rolling off the powerful demon. A tier three monster standing in front of a tier seven, it’s to be expected. I myself haven’t experienced that sort of disparity since the first time I laid eyes on Garralosh.
I really need to ask Granin about this strange manifestation of power, as I understand very little about it. Is it simply the difference of intensity in the core that causes this effect? Is it a biological sense that’s inborn in monsters so we can recognise the more powerful specimens when we come across them? A curious thought. I reach out to the grotesque mound of flesh with my mind.
[Mind retracting your aura a bit? My sibling here is still young.]
High above the heaving flesh, the demon’s eyes glitter with malice.
“I will not,” he replies.
I shrug my antennae.
[Suit yourself. Be warned that this might be construed as an insult to the Colony though.]
Those eyes narrow.
“Are you threatening me? In my own city?”
[I mean, in a way? I suppose if you wanted to interpret it that way, then I am. Yes.]
“I could have you shredded to gobbets with the wave of a hand, insect.”
[You’d have to put your food down first.]
We stare at each other for a long moment before I decide to try and extend a claw in peace.
[Look. It seems as if we’ve gotten off on the wrong mandible. My sibling and my friends here have climbed down from above to take a look at your lovely city and experience the delights of the third stratum. Are visitors welcome in the City of Roklu? That’s the name, right? If they aren’t, we can just as easily leave the way we came.]
Gotta lay on the charm when you’re dealing with these types. Although it’s taking all my willpower not to reference the demon’s vast bulk. It’s not like I can avert my eyes from that heaving gut, I have near three-sixty-degree vision!
My change in tone seems to have taken this ruler by surprise and he regards us in silence. I’m hoping this is a good sign. Spirit of adventure is all well and good, but I’d much rather I didn’t plunge the Colony into a war on this trip. I’m due for an outing that ends without starting a major conflict.
“I am the city lord of Roklu, Grokus,” he says. “Generally speaking, visitors are welcome, albeit rare, in my city. Visitors from above are even more rare. There are few who would brave the dangers of the descent. I would have you know that I am already aware of your… colony…”
I could distinctly hear the lack of a capital when he referred to my family. Disgraceful.
“…And I must warn you that any attempt to encroach on my territory will be met with extreme force. I have struggled long to gain my position and I will not surrender it.”
I shrug.
[In the end, we’re just a group of ants.] I gesture to Brilliant besides me, still frozen in place by the presence of the large demon. [I can’t imagine that a city full of big bad demons has much to fear from us, surely?]
Grokus looks at me with one eye cast askance.
“That doesn’t seem to be what you were suggesting earlier when you threatened me…”
I clack my mandibles and wave away the suggestion.
[A little bluster in a conversation is to be expected, is it not? We’re strangers in a new place, it’s normal for us to be somewhat cautious. I, for one, have never set claw in a demon city and had no idea what to expect. I certainly didn’t realise I’d be dropping into the city lord’s compound. So, I take it we might have your leave to explore the city?]
While the giant demon chews over my question, I take the opportunity to examine his core a little more closely. It’s clear that his core holds more energy than mine, but not by that much. Clearly, he hasn’t benefited from a maxed core at each stage of his development. That doesn’t mean I’m equal to him, a gap in tier represents a doubling of potential after all, but he isn’t that much stronger than I am. With all my allies present, I’m confident we could make a mess of the place, though I expect that’s why I detect so many strong demons nearby. Grokus isn’t taking any chances with us.